James R. Quisenberry

James R. Quisenberry VIRGINIA BEACH - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. James R. "Jim" Quisenberry, 84, passed away Jan. 21, 2009, in his residence. Jim was born Oct. 31, 1924, in Washington, D.C., to the late Dr. J. Rice Quisenberry and Lucy Bryan (Jones) Quisenberry. He was also preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Paula Jan Quisenberry. Jim, also known as "Q," entered the Marine Corps in June 1943. After recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C., he was trained as a radar operator and served with Air Warning Squadron (AWS) 15 and AWS-9 in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Upon release from active duty, as a sergeant, in May 1946, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in general sciences from Wake Forest College in North Carolina. He returned to active duty in March 1951 and was commissioned in July 1951. As a lieutenant, he graduated from the Basic School, Communications Officers Course, and the Army Security Agency Company Officer Course and served as platoon commander for a NROTC summer course and a Basic School course. He also served as a recruiting officer and casualty assistance officer, prior to being assigned, in June 1953, as operations officer and accountable officer to 1st Radio Company, FMF, at Camp Pendleton, Calif. As a captain, he relocated with 1st Radio Company to Camp Lejeune, N.C., where he retained the operations and accountable officer assignments until his transfer in 1956 to 3rd Shore Party Battalion, on Okinawa, where he served as communications officer to both the battalion and Camp Hague, as well as investigating officer, defense counsel and later as Battalion S-2/S-3. In 1957, he was transferred to the predecessor of what is now the Marine Cryptologic Support Battalion and served at the National Security Agency as communications watch officer and later as branch head. In August 1960, he attended Amphibious Warfare Course; upon graduation, he was assigned as assistant CEO of the 2nd Marine Division in the summer of 1961. As a captain, having been selected for major, he was transferred to 2nd Radio Company, FMF, as commanding officer in December 1961 where he remained until after the Company was re-designated as 2nd Radio Battalion in May 1964. He then served on the staff of the Naval Security Group Division of the Atlantic Fleet Headquarters in Norfolk, as both major and lieutenant colonel, until August 1967. He served as psychological warfare officer of the 3rd Marine Division, in Phu Bai, Vietnam from September 1967 until his transfer as officer-in-charge, Sub Unit No. 1, 1st Radio Battalion. Upon completion of the tour in Vietnam in October 1968, he served on the staff of the Naval Security Group Division of the Pacific Fleet in Hawaii, until he was assigned to Headquarters, Marine Corps, as head of the Signals Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Branch of the Intelligence Division of July 1970. He served in that capacity as both a lieutenant colonel and colonel then as deputy director of the Intelligence Division until his transfer in 1975 to Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Development Center, at Quantico, Va., as director of the Intelligence Division. Col. Quisenberry retired while director of the Intelligence Division in September 1976. His awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit (with a combat "V" and a star in lieu of a second award), The Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, American Theater Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal, World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal (with one star), Vietnamese Service Medal (with 4 stars), Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Meritorious Unit Commendation (with palm), and the Republic of Vietnam Naval Commendation Medal (60-). After retiring, he earned an associate of applied science degrees in accounting and business management from Northern Virginia Community College. He then attended Mary Washington College, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in classical civilization in 1986. In 1990 he, along with other Marines, founded the Marine Corps Cryptologic Association (MCCA). Jim was a devoted, loving and generous husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was proud to have served his country as a United States Marine. He will be truly missed by everyone who knew him and who loved him. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Diana P. Quisenberry; two daughters, Carolyn Louise Q. Kerensky and Mary Elaine Quisenberry; three sons, Bart Quisenberry, Jeffrey James Quisenberry and Lee Randolph Quisenberry; and nine grandchildren. The family will receive friends in Hollomon-Brown Funeral Home, Kempsville Chapel, Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home chapel by the Rev. Ernest L. Trueblood. Graveside services will be held in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors Feb. 17 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation or The Heritage Foundation. Condolences may be offered to the family at www.hollomon-brown.com.